NFL Preview

AFC EAST

1. New York Jets (11-5)- The Jets are coming off a tremendous playoff run which ended in the AFC Championship Game, a game that they led 17-6 at one point. They have added a tremendous amount of talent in Santonio Holmes, Antonio Cromartie, Jason Taylor and LaDainian Tomlinson. This is the most talented team in this division even without their best player, Darrelle Revis, who is still unsigned. They will have a huge target on their backs, but as long as Mark Sanchez plays like a league average quarterback, the Jets will win their first division title since 2002.
2. New England Patriots (10-6)- They are still the Patriots and they still have Tom Brady. This is still a good team and they will make the playoffs again. Their defense is not what it once was, but it was bad last year too and they still found a way to win enough games to make the playoffs. Brady should be even better now 2 years removed from knee surgery. A Monday night game in early December against the Jets could decide this division.
3. Miami Dolphins (9-7)- The Dolphins are a very solid team, unfortunately for them, they play in a division where just being a solid team is not going to cut it. Chad Henne looks like he has a bright future and Brandon Marshall will help this offense take a step forward. However, there are still big questions on defense, Ricky Williams is not getting any younger and Ronnie Brown has not shown the ability to stay healthy the past couple of years.
4. Buffalo Bills (3-13)- With first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft the Buffalo Bills select…

AFC NORTH

1. Baltimore Ravens (11-5)- The Ravens will make it three consecutive trips to the playoffs. This is one of the most talented teams in the entire league and a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They will be without Ed Reed for at least the first 6 games, but they should be able to get through those games and be primed for a big run when their All-World safety returns.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8)-  Ben Roethlisberger will miss the first 4 games. His replacement is Charlie Batch. Leading receiver Santonio Holmes was traded to the Jets and OT Willie Colon is lost for the season due to injury. That is a lot of talent to lose and the Steelers will not be able to recover from that loss of talent.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9)- If this team had the 2006 versions of Carson Palmer, TO, and Ochocinco they would be a very scary team. Unfortunately, they have the 2010 versions of those players and those are just not very good. Anytime you can build your team around washed-up headcases, you have to do it, right?
4. Cleveland Browns (4-12)- If you could pick one veteran quarterback to mentor a rookie quarterback, wouldn't you pick Jake Delhomme? Good thing the people of Cleveland will have the Cavs to watch come October.

AFC SOUTH

1. Indianapolis Colts (13-3)- It will be another 12-win season for the remarkably consistent Colts. They enter another season as Super Bowl favorites and will probably draw the ire of the league for resting their starters for the last couple of games.
2. Houston Texans (9-7)- This is a very talented team that always comes up just short. They have been a trendy pick for 4 years now and they continue to miss the playoffs. I will pick them for 9 wins until they show me they are capable of taking that next step.
3. Tennessee Titans (8-8)- There is not a whole lot of elite talent on this team, but Chris Johnson can steal a game at any time and Jeff Fischer is a great coach and this team always plays hard, but they will fall just short again this year.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)- Why is there a professional football team in Jacksonville, Florida? Hey, at least Jacksonville State beat Ole Miss.

AFC WEST

            This division is just awful. Can we just agree to not talk about it anymore?

1. San Diego Chargers (10-6)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (8-8)
3. Oakland Raiders (7-9)
4. Denver Broncos (6-10)

NFC EAST

1. Dallas Cowboys (10-6)- Another very talented Cowboys team. Can they come back from the beating Minnesota put on them in the playoffs last year? Added pressure this year with the Super Bowl being played at Cowboys Stadium.
2. New York Giants (8-8)- Record contract for Antrel Rolle? He is a nice player, but he was probably the third best player in the Cardinals secondary last year. Eli Manning had an excellent year last year, but he will need to be even better for the Giants to return to the playoffs.
3. Washington Redskins (7-9)- Donavan McNabb will help, but this is still a very old and, frankly, overrated team.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (7-9)- Kevin Kolb will show flashes of brilliance, but will also make plenty of mistakes and the defense will not be good enough to cover up for Kolb's mistakes.

NFC NORTH

1. Green Bay Packers (12-4)- The Packers are a very balanced team with the ability to light up the scoreboard and keep the opposition off of it. Aaron Rodgers is my pick for NFL MVP this year and should lead the Packers back to elite status.
2. Minnesota Vikings (10-6)- If Favre's ankle can hold up, this will be a very good team. If it doesn't, it will be Tavaris Jackson time. Scary thought.
3. Chicago Bears (8-8)- It will be another disappointing year in Chicago. Jay Cutler still makes way too many mistakes for a veteran quarterback and Julius Peppers still takes way too many plays off.
4. Detroit Lions (5-11)- The Lions are still a ways away from contention. This may be the first team where you can say if they get to 5 wins, it will be a big step in the right direction. I think that statement ranks fairly high on the backhanded compliment scale.